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Canine Cancer

Dogs are Living Longer
Cancer is on the rise in our beloved dogs. My heart goes out
to any pet owner dealing with canine cancer. My hat goes off
to Vets and specialists who guide dog owners through the process
of diagnosis to treatment. This guidance may include some very
emotional options.

Stuff Happens
As with humans who do all the right things such as healthy
eating habits, exercise, and no family history of cancer,
some people unfortunately and surprisingly still get tagged with some
form of cancer. Same goes for our dogs.

Just Plain Luck
Even if a pet owner does all the right things for the family pet,
I feel luck has a huge part in our dog’s longevity. Paying top
dollar for your dog does NOT guarantee longevity. Some breeds
are known to be more susceptible to cancer. And, some
young dogs get cancer.

Raw diets vs Commercial Dog Food
Once a dog is diagnosed with cancer most of us will do whatever
it takes to help our dog fight this insidious disease. I have
various friends after learning their dog contracted cancer consult
with a canine nutritionist or holistic Vet who suggested they change
their dog’s commercial diet to raw foods and supplements.
It is suggested that a raw diet and supplements may help the immune
system cope with the treatment protocols. Those dog owners already
feeding raw diets may also need some dietary tweaks to their feeding
regime.

Daily Pet Care
I always recommend to clients to perform at home Vet checks which
you can do when grooming or just petting your dog. Run your hands
all over your dog’s body checking for lumps or bumps that may not
have been there before.

Benign lipoma or fatty tumor (copyright 2008 Diane Rich)

Look inside your dog’s mouth for anything unusual such as a
wart, discoloration, or bleeding. Look at the dog’s tongue to check
for anything unusual.

The Symptoms listed below may indicate cancer or could
indicate another medical problem. Early detection, as with humans
may offer a more positive outcome. See your Vet.

Any change in your dog’s habits is something that needs Vet attention. Sometimes a change in behavior can have an underlying medical component.

Treatment
We now have better treatment options for pets diagnosed with cancer.
If the results from a biopsy indicate cancer, your Vet will suggest the
various courses of treatment . Surgery may be indicated. Or your Vet
may refer you to canine oncologist who may suggest radiation and
chemotherapy as an option for more aggressive cancers. Nutritional
support, pain management and other therapies may be included in
your dog’s treatment plan.

Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate..